By Jasper County Daily News
Newton Jasper County battled its way to a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A State Tournament, earning a spot among the top four teams in the state.
Newton Jasper County opened state tournament play Friday with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Rushville Schuyler Industry.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Audrey Earnest delivered the breakthrough. Earnest singled and drove in two runs, giving Newton Jasper County a 2-0 advantage heading into the final inning.
Emma Wagner then closed out the victory in the circle, throwing all seven innings for the shutout. Wagner struck out seven and held Rushville Schuyler Industry to just three hits.
Earnest finished 1-for-3 with both of Newton Jasper County’s RBIs, while Ellie Ochs collected two hits in three at-bats.
The win sent Newton Jasper County into the next round of the state tournament.
Metamora GS 6, Newton Jasper County 1
Newton Jasper County faced Metamora GS on Saturday and fell 6-1.
Metamora broke the scoreless tie in the third inning when Jaide Gubitz singled to right field and Sydney Stone doubled, with the two hits driving in four runs.
Avery Brattvet earned the victory for Metamora, pitching seven innings and allowing five hits and one run while striking out 16.
Wagner took the loss for Newton Jasper County. She worked six and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits. She struck out nine and walked five.
Carissa Barthelme, Harper Wolf, Charlee Hartrich, Wagner and Ochs each recorded a hit for Newton Jasper County. Barthelme also drove in the team’s lone run.
Gubitz led Metamora at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
St. Joseph 7, Newton Jasper County 3
Newton Jasper County then faced St. Joseph and dropped a 7-3 decision.
St. Joseph took an early lead in the first inning after an error scored one run and Madison Lubinski followed with a two-run single.
Wagner started in the circle for Newton Jasper County and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on three hits. None of the runs were earned. She struck out six and walked one.
Barthelme worked the final four innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits while striking out four and walking three.
Newton Jasper County collected seven hits, with Brooklyn Cleaver, Harper Wolf, Emma Massey, Scarlett Semple, Charlee Hartrich, Wagner and Audrey Earnest each recording one.
Semple, Hartrich and Wagner each drove in a run.
St. Joseph was led by Abigail Barnhart and Mia McCall, who each had two hits. Lubinski and Barnhart each drove in two runs.
A Fourth-Place Finish at State
Despite the two Saturday losses, Newton Jasper County’s run to the state tournament’s final four resulted in a fourth-place finish in Class 2A.
The state tournament appearance capped a memorable postseason run for Newton Jasper County, with the team defeating Rushville Schuyler Industry on the state stage and finishing among the top four Class 2A teams in Illinois.
State Tournament Stat Box
| Game | Result | Newton Hits | Newton Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rushville Schuyler Industry | W, 2-0 | 3 | 2 |
| Metamora GS | L, 1-6 | 5 | 1 |
| St. Joseph | L, 3-7 | 7 | 3 |
| State Tournament Finish | 4th Place — Class 2A | 15 | 6 |
State Tournament Highlights: Emma Wagner threw a seven-strikeout shutout against Rushville Schuyler Industry, while Audrey Earnest delivered the two-run sixth-inning single that sent Newton Jasper County to the victory.
